Christmas week is coming to a close. All the presents have been given and received. Did everyone like the presents that you gave them? We always hope so. It is unfortunate if we give a gift that we feel we have carefully chosen, only to have it rejected, especially if it is callously rejected. Our Scripture for today is a brief one from the Apostle Paul’s letter to his friend and colleague Titus, and speaks of the gift that God has given to us, given to us on that first Christmas day, but which so many people have rejected.
In our Scripture passage we read that Jesus gave Himself for us (vs. 14). He was the gift that God gave, grace incarnate, God’s gracious gift to fallen man. Sometimes we receive a gift and wonder what it is for. Paul explains that the purpose of Jesus being given was to redeem us, to pay the penalty of our sins. We were redeemed and saved from sin and purified for Himself to become His special people, His children.
Does this mean that since God gave this gift for everyone, that everyone is saved, that everyone will receive the benefits of salvation, including a place in heaven? The answer to this is no. Just like you might have given a gift to someone, only to have them refuse or reject it, so it is with the gift of Jesus Christ that God gave to mankind. There are multitudes all around the world in every country, all throughout history, that have rejected God’s gift. This Scripture passage, and other similar ones, do not back the false teaching of “universal salvation”, the belief that everyone will be saved and go to heaven. The truth is that though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to cover every sin of everyone, one must believe and accept Jesus as their Savior. Salvation becomes effective only through faith Only those who believe will be saved.
Imagine, if you will, that I was rather wealthy, and that I was going to give ice cream to everyone in Chicago, where I live. In order to get that ice cream, though, each individual person must come by me, ask for, and then receive the gift of that delicious treat. If they don’t come by and ask me for it, they don’t receive it. I provided the ice cream, it was available, but only those who asked for it received it. If they didn’t, they lost out. God provides salvation for everyone, but in order to receive it one must accept Jesus as their personal Savior. If they refuse Him, if they ignore this specific provision for salvation, they are not saved. Salvation is available to everyone, but not everyone will be saved, because some will reject the provision God offers. After death it is too late. No one gets saved after death. We may like to think that everyone will be saved and get to heaven, it may make us feel good, but sadly it is not the case. Multitudes refuse Jesus, right up to their death, and after death it is too late.
Salvation is transforming, and produces a new life in which the power of sin has been broken (vs. 12). The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live as a Christian, and obey God’s commands. Jesus’ death rescued us from sin’s control. He gives us the power and understanding to live according to His will. In order to do that we must deny, or say no to sin and its temptation and control, and say yes to actively living for God.
We also see in this Epistle to Titus very clearly that Jesus is God. We see this when Paul calls Him “our great God and Savior” (vs. 13). Many deny the Trinity, including some who call themselves “Christians”, claiming that Jesus is just a “good man”, a “good teacher”. However, Jesus is divine, is God, the Second Person of the Trinity.
In closing, Paul reminds us that for those who have accepted God’s gift of His Son, we are not only free from the sentence of death for our sins, but we are also purified from sin’s influence as we grow as a Christian (vs. 14). The death of Jesus on the cross atoned for every sin, past, present, and future, but only becomes effective, operative, and beneficial to those who believe and accept Him. God gave that gift to you. Have you accepted it, and claimed Jesus as your Savior? Do so today, before this year runs out.
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